An official delegation from the US State of Hawaii visited Hainan from July 23 to 26, 2025, in a bid to strengthen bilateral ties. A highlight of the visit was the “Hawai'i Coffee Tasting Event,” held on the afternoon of July 24 at the Ritz-Carlton Haikou.

The Hawai'i Coffee Tasting Event in action

Representatives from the Hawaiian delegation, the Foreign Affairs Office of Hainan Province, the Department of Commerce of Hainan Province, the Department of Industry and Information Technology of Hainan Province, as well as local enterprises were engaged in in-depth discussions on specialty products and trade potential, particularly within the framework of the Hainan Free Trade Port (FTP) policies, with a focus on expanding agricultural trade following the launch of the special customs operations.

At the event, Hainan representatives introduced the latest policies and development opportunities of the Hainan FTP, along with an overview of the province’s coffee industry. They outlined potential areas for collaboration, including tech-enabled agricultural innovation, policy-driven trade promotion, integration with cultural tourism and consumption, and cooperation in green energy. Special emphasis was placed on the institutional strengths of the FTP, especially the key role of the upcoming special customs operations in advancing trade liberalization and facilitation. One-on-one business discussions between Hawaiian delegates and Hainan enterprises were also held during the event.

Officials emphasized that Hainan is accelerating its transformation into an internationally influential hub for tourism and consumption. Once special customs operations are initiated, Hainan will implement a high-level opening framework for goods trade characterized by “free flow through the ‘first line’” and “efficient control at the ‘second line’.” This structure will provide efficient new channels for international premium consumer goods, such as Hawaiian specialty coffee, to enter the Chinese market. With Hainan’s fast-growing coffee industry, both sides see strong potential for cooperation in areas such as planting technology exchanges, deep-processing, joint branding, and using Hainan as a springboard to broader regional markets.

The Hawaiian side responded positively to the blueprint presented by the Hainan delegation. Representatives showcased the globally renowned Kona coffee, sharing insights into its unique roasting techniques and inviting attendees to sample its rich signature flavor. They also detailed the scale of Hawaii’s coffee industry, its quality standards, and its global market footprint. The Hawaiian delegation expressed strong interest in leveraging the policy advantages of Hainan FTP to expand into the Chinese and Asia-Pacific markets. They underscored the appeal of policies such as “zero tariffs, low tax rates, and a simplified tax regime,” particularly tariff exemptions on self-use production equipment and raw materials, and highlighted the favorable cross-border trade conditions that special customs operations will bring, creating strong incentives for the import and export of high-quality agricultural products like coffee.

Following the main session, the two sides continued their exchanges over a coffee tasting. Lynn Pualani DeCoite, a member of the Hawaii State Senate, expressed her hope that the event would raise greater awareness of both Hainan and Hawaiian coffee, help people appreciate their high quality, and further stimulate Chinese market demand. She also voiced confidence in the broad prospects for bilateral cooperation under Hainan’s supportive trade policies.